Hi. I am a self-taught mixed-media artist who lives in Michigan. . . I have started this blog to share with you the art that I make, and perhaps a story now and then. . . and . . . who know, perhaps every now and then I will have a profound thought . . . let's just see where journey takes me! . . . your welcome to come along! smiles . . . ja-who-dee

Thursday, October 16, 2008

As I have mentioned before, my mother has Alzheimer's. She is still in the middle stages. She's lucid. She doesn't really live in the past, although if you asked her the month and year she'd get it wrong. And as for the day . . . well that's questionable too. Usually the answer has been June 2006. But I'm sure as the weather changes she will pick a fall month.

My mother will carry on a conversation with you. As long as you keep the flow going. She won't initiate the conversation. She is very quiet in a large group, as I don't think she can keep up with the conversation. She is a very bright woman and has been able to keep her condition somewhat hidden from those not too close to her. Never for long though. Any conversation over 10 minutes and you'd have picked up that something wasn't just right.

She was at a risk to herself to have her live in her home alone. We had hired aides to come in the morning and then later in the afternoon for a while. It was "okay" for a while, but something that never made me quite comfortable as she was also so alone for most of the day.

Then we had to start locking up medications as she was sometimes double dipping into the next weeks pills.

There was much debate amongst my siblings and I about should we unplug the stove or pull the fuse . . . should we build a door so the upstairs could be locked up . . . should we put a lock on the basement door. My feeling was that if we were unplugging some one's stove it was time to either have 24 hour care at the house or have mom move into the new nursing home.

My sister was always a big advocate for staying at home. I was rather iffy on that. It just didn't feel right. Mom is a social person, and we have effectively made her a recluse. She got out some with friends and us periodically, but she spent a lot of time alone. She had told me she was lonely. I could just picture mom in one room, the aide in the other. I couldn't see the aide doing any of the occupational therapy that the facility would have to offer. The outings, the daily activities, and most of all, lots of people around. Needless to say, we weren't all on the same page as to how to move forward, but knew we needed to make a big change. My prayers to God were always for wisdom to help us make the right decision as to how to take care of mom.

So we had an intervention with my mother. Oh boy. That was a rough meeting. Did we think she was stupid? How did the doctor say she had Alzheimer's? She takes her pills (yes, but not unless someone is there to remind her to take her pills), why would she pay someone to watch her sleep? Oh I'm sure you can imagine. She wasn't ready to go to any nursing home. Then she would repeat the same things she told us over and over. She can't remember that she already made the statements she made.

Now I understand my mother's reluctance to go to a nursing home. When she graduated from nursing school in the later 40's, the day of graduation, right after the ceremony she was taken to be a patient at a TB Sanatorium. Could you imagine . . . the big ward room, the iron beds . . . they had to stay in bed 24/7 . . . and then her only other big experience with a "facility" was when she did nurses training in the later 40's at a mental institution . . . you've all seen "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" I presume?

But the new facility in town is like a 5 star resort. It's beautiful. It's a different world than the older nursing homes around the area. Lots of activities for the residence, and also lots of occupational treatment for those specifically with dementia and Alzheimer's.

But she wasn't having any of it.

Then the Divine Intervention came along. Her hip went out of place, and she had no choice but to go to rehab in that very facility she wanted nothing to do with. She loves it! She said she didn't think she needed to go home. She might just as well stay where she is. She glows again. I am seeing a spark in mother that has long been missing. She is rarely in her room as she is out and about either just visiting others or partaking in whatever daily activity is scheduled.

My Aunt Ethel had said that it was like the place was made for mom. I believe she was right!

Monday, October 13, 2008

I should learn how to use my camera. You know, the picture is worth a thousand words . . . it's a trueism.

I went on a day long supply trip with my friends Karen and Sarah. Oh my the first bead sto re went to . . . oooohhh tables and tables and wall displays and turnstyle displays and display cases of beads . . . tons and tons of glorious beads! They had a 20% off the entire store sale, which evidently they have twice a year. Then that 20% was off of anything they already had on sale. So one table was actually 70% off! yowsers! It was an adrenaline rush that's for sure! After I rang up and realize I didn't really spend as much as I thought I wanted to go back for more . . . oh my gosh, it is truely an addiction I have going here!

Then we went to the regular Joanne Fabrics, Michaels, Hobby Lobby stores. oh I found something in all of them. I found a Pasta Machine on sale at one of them for 10 BUCKS. I'm not even ready to start that hobby yet, but I bought one because it was such a good deal . . . just means more supplies to buy to go with it . . . yikes! Maybe I'll get Haze the supplies for Christmas . . . and then just use those . . . lol . . . she hasn't even ever expressed a desire for the clay . . but she would love it . . . oh yes, now here is an idea to feed my addiction . . . oh dear, this is bad . . . . yikes.

Then we did a couple Salvation Army stores. I also did make a purchas in each of those too. I got a winter coat for 15 bucks . . . a couple shirts for $5.00. It was werid how they sorted the clothes by color and not size . . . but it was fun to dig through it all . . . .

Friday, October 10, 2008

I was looking around and googling here and there to find out more about my new passion . . . which I refer to as Twisted Sister . . . Wire Wrapping. As you know, I'm completely self taught, and google is my friend.

But I also draw tons of inspiration for the Queen of Twisted Steel . . . Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com (wish I knew how to code HML so I could do the fancy click on the name take you there thing)

gosh, rambling again sorry . . .

my point is . . . I actually have some jewelry published in the above magazine . . . and guess who I JUST discovered is right by me in there . . . Oh the Queen of Twisted Steel . . . Deryn! WoooHOoooo . . .

Thursday, October 09, 2008

hi. my name is judy and i'm a supplyaholic. do i think that if i have more supplies i'll be a better artist? what's up with this compulsion to have it all? perhaps i am under the illusion that i have more time than i really do? perhaps i think that in the middle of the night some little elves are going to go to my work table and create the millions of projects i have supplies for? is it a sign if you have 3 pages of "feedbacks" to leave at etsy from 2 days of"browsing" does it mean you've bought to much? can one buy to much? am i alone in this addiction? is there a 12 step program?leave me a post and let me know if your a compulsive hoarder and buy it all and then save it because your still waiting for that "special" project to pop into your brain . . . or like me, just visit the pretty objects and stroke them saying "precious, my precious" . . . . . or do you have a nice and spartan like approach. . . using your supplies and not buying more until the last of the glue stick is gone . . . or is there actually middle ground to this supply business? . . i'll draw a lucky winner for a nice generous surprise package of collage paper and some elements and this and that . . .cause one can never have enough!love ya, love your art . . .ja-who-dee

Monday, October 06, 2008

The charm is my Dad's graduation picture. Isn't he handsome :*) I originally had this on a ball chain necklace. I gave it to my sis, she took it off the chain and had it on a string. Kind of drove me nuts, but hey, not everyone likes the ball chain . . . so I got it back from her and made this necklace. It has a fabric bead on it, made from my hubby's jammies . . . all the techniques used in the two necklaces (minus the charm) can be found in A Charming Exchange book by Kelly Snelling and Ruth Rae. I rave about this book all the time . . . I also googled wire wrapping and found tons of inspiration and basic techniques out there. Google is my friend. I am a self taught artist and there never seems to be any classes in my neck of the woods. One of these days I would LLLLOOOOVVVVEEEEE to attend an retreat . . . oh economy, get your act together so I can feel better about spending the $$$

course, if I quit buying every new supplie gizmo and gadget and image sheet and . . . .well, you get my drift . . . I would probably have at least the plane ticket saved in no time. . . .